Ex-Knox 'teacher of the year' retired with benefits while under investigation for child pornography

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Brian Corrie Patton, 65, of Knoxville, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor for possessing more than 2,000 images depicting child sexual abuse. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.(Photo11: Knoxville Police Department)

This story has been updated to clarify that Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System benefit forfeiture applies to felony crimes only, and to say that Patton will not forfeit his benefits because the crime did not appear to arise from his official capacity.

Their investigation confirmed it. Patton gave police permission to search the rest of his electronic devices and they turned up more than 2,000 images of child pornography.

On Feb. 2, Patton elected to retire with benefits under the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System. Federal and state employees can lose those benefits if they are convicted of a state or federal felony crime arising from their employment.

Tennessee Department of Treasury spokeswoman Shelli King said the department did not have reason to believe that was the case with Patton.

Debusk said police were able to confirm that none of Patton's images were of Knox County Schools students, and Knox County Schools spokeswoman Carly Harrington said there were no pornographic images on Patton's work iPad, laptop or desktop computers.

Because the crime does not appear to arise from Patton's official capacity, he will not forfeit his benefits.

Patton taught music at Pleasant Ridge Elementary School and was listed on the Knox County Schools website as the 2014 Pre-K through 4th grade Pleasant Ridge Elementary teacher of the year.

Before working at Pleasant Ridge, Patton taught at Fulton High School and South Doyle Middle School.

According to his file, he has a theological background and attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a prominent seminary in Kentucky.